How does one describe one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily? Words aren’t always sufficient. If it’s any indication of just how magnificent Siculiana Marina is, Sicilian guitarist Francesco Buzzurro composed an entire album of songs inspired by it called Il Quinto Elemento (The Fifth Element). When I heard him perform pieces from it…
Tag: sicily photo
Secret Swimming Spot On The Sea
Locals only
Summer Breeze Above the Sea at Scala dei Turchi
Scala dei Turchi (aka the Stairs of the Turks) was named after a local legend that recounts when Turkish, AKA Saracen, pirates scaled the white cliffs that pour like stairs into the Africa-facing sea.
Sicily’s History Offers Us Knowledge For Today
Sicily’s history offers us many lessons. Since the 13th century Modica (pictured) has been a prosperous and important city. For centuries it was the seat of its own county that enjoyed political independence and economic and cultural influence. The resource-rich surrounding landscape with agriculture as its economic engine has made Modica and Ragusa province wealthy…
Sharing Sicily At Home
Thank you to all who participated in last evening’s online cannoli making workshop! Working with you all, sharing what I love with you and seeing your joy from it inspired me. When I see families sharing Sicilian culture together, it makes my heart sing. Grazie! Many more online events are to come! Stand by for…
Icarus, Daedalus And Sicily
Icarus got carried away with the ability to fly. His father Daedalus, an inventor, craftsman, and artist, created two sets of wings for Icarus and himself to escape imprisonment in Crete. Daedalus instructed Icarus not to fly too high and not to fly too low: The heat of the sun would melt the wax holding…
Cannoli Before
This is what cannoli shells look like before they are “initiated” in the fryer. Learn this and more during Let’s Make Cannoli from Scratch, an online cooking class I’ll be hosting on July 1 at 5:30PM Eastern. I will send you my personal recipe and a list of ingredients you should have ready to go,…
Modica, Sicily And Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Today is the feast day of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Peter, of course, is the protector of Rome (and popes too). But importantly (For my family especially, since my father is named Peter and I come from a long line of fishermen), he is the patron saint of net-makers, shipbuilders, and fishermen, and…
Wheat Fields In Ragusa, Sicily
Stone walls mark the fields where the wheat harvest in the countryside of Ragusa province is now taking place.
Up On The Hill In Scicli
The ancient church of Saint Matthew (San Matteo) is perched on a high hill overlooking the entire town of Scicli. Now abondoned, the shell of the building was constructed in the 18th century following the devastating 1693 earthquake on top of the ruins of a Norman church and probably (I’ll venture to guess) other sacred…